NHPC has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from India-based and global companies to empanel for developing offshore wind power projects in India.

The empanelment period will be five years.

The last date to submit the bids is February 17, 2024. Bids will be opened on February 20.

Bidders must pay ₹10,000 (~$120) towards the document cost.

Through the EoI, NHPC plans to collaborate with companies that have extensive knowledge and experience in offshore wind power project development across the globe.

NHPC also intends to associate with the empanelled companies to formulate and submit bids for concessions invited by the government or its agencies to develop offshore wind power projects in India on a build-own-operate basis.

Bidders should have commissioned at least 100 MW of offshore wind energy capacity globally.

They must have in place environmental, quality assurance, health and safety policies specific to offshore wind project infrastructure as per international practices.

Bidders must have a minimum average annual net worth of ₹12.5 billion (~$150.85 million) during the last five years.

Their average annual turnover during the last three years should be at least ₹5 billion (~$60.34 million).

Bidders should have raised funds equal to or greater than ₹5 billion (~$60.34 million) and up to ₹10 billion (~$120.68 million).

They should also have a plan to meet the project’s funding requirements.

The Ministry of External Affairs has issued rules regarding leasing of areas for offshore wind energy projects. As per the rules, leased areas for offshore wind energy projects will be valid for an initial three-year period for conducting resource measurements and surveys.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced it would hold auctions for offshore wind sites along the Tamil Nadu coastline, with the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) overseeing them. The Ministry has drafted three models for developing offshore wind energy projects, especially along the extreme southern and western shorelines of the country – Viability Gap Funding (VGF) model, non-VGF model with exclusivity over seabed and non-VGF model without exclusivity over seabed.

NIWE has floated a tender for offshore geophysical and geotechnical investigations at different offshore wind sites in sub-zone-1, Gulf of Mannar, off the Tamil Nadu coast.

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